As long as the body is healthy, as long as death is far away (when younger), perform deeds beneficial for the soul. What can (one) do at the end of life (when death is near)?

Commentary:

When in good health and form, most of the time and energy is spent in accruing more wealth, properties, possessions, etc. All the younger years of life is engaged in 'enjoying life'. But in reality, the indulgences while 'enjoying life', only harm the progress of the soul. The poet says, when hale and healthy, perform deeds beneficial for the soul. No one knows when he would draw his last breath. But then, it is a know factor that most people live through their youth, grow old and eventually face death. When still young, when death is presumed to be far away, that is the time to work on performing good deeds. What can one do from his death bed, when old and frail, barely able to take care of himself!

The general misnomer amongst the youth is that, virtuous actions and noble deeds can be saved for a later date! But truth is, one has to rush to start being aware of his actions and benefiting his soul as early as he can. When one life time is just not enough to contemplate on everything, how can one think that he can while away more than half his precious time and still be able to accomplish everything in just a few years later! Another issue would also be all the unwanted vasanas he has accumulated in this birth as well. Unlearning and relearning again at a much later stage of life, will make it harder than ever to think about uplifting the soul!

Now is the time! Procrastination is not even a choice when the subject is the soul. One has to contemplate every single day, if his actions were pro-active towards the soul or degenerative! Only then can he move in the direction of progress.

The earth is held up by truth; the sun burns based on truth; even the wind blows based on truth. Everything is established in truth.

Commentary:

Truth is all pervading! It is eternal and unperturbed. Only that is truth, everything else is untruth! Even the quest of humans is after this eternal truth. All phenomenon are working based on this alone!

The earth is held up based on truth, the truth that earth is held on due to the gravity of the sun and it's own gravitational pull. That remains true always. The sun burns and shines based on truth. The wind blows based on truth.

If all these phenomenon decided to act differently each day, the world would be a chaos! Beings know what to anticipate because they are all established based on their own truths. The sun can't decide to be cold one day nor can the wind decide to burn on another!!

Virtue is protected by wealth; knowledge is guarded by practice; gentleness protects a king; a home is secured by an excellent lady.

Commentary:

Everyone and everything has a guarding factor! Wealth should be put to use for the protection of virtue. For example, giving is a virtue. But to give, one needs to have! The act of giving is hence executed with the aid of wealth.

It is not enough to earn and accumulate knowledge. Only when one put is to use and practices it on a daily basis, does his vidyaa get guarded. Else, his knowledge shall rust and lose the edge.

Gentleness protects a king! This one might sound a little strange. But it is yet true. Gentleness here, is towards his subjects. If he handles them gently, they are bound to obey him and come to respect him as well. He will make less enemies that way and can long rule his kingdom. Hence, a gentle demeanor protects the king.

The most important of all, is the basic unit of the society - a home! A home is what the lady makes it. She is the role model for the entire family, who takes care of the needs of everyone in the household. She instills values in them, disciplines the children, manages the health of all, keeps everyone on track, makes sure everyone's needs are met, every single day!

A well-versed lady knows what values to teach the children. A well-rounded lady knows what kinds of foods to offer to her family. A well-grounded lady knows what are the priorities of the household and how to keep a level head as well. All these attributes certify her excellence! And such an excellent lady secures the home and gives everyone a safe haven. She brings out the best in everyone and everyone is confident in being what they are.

For the twice born (brahmins), fire is God; for the ascetics, the Lord is in their hearts; for those with little insight, it is in the statue; for those with equanimity, He is everywhere!

Commentary:

A person born as a brahmin, is considered to have two births. First, when he actually takes birth and the sacred thread ceremony is considered as the second. For him, the rituals taught and imbibed in him are divine. He worships it as God. Fire used in those rituals is, God to him.

The ascetics carry the Lord in their hearts. They connect with the inner divine spirit, is what it means. Everyone has it in their hearts, but the connectivity to it is what makes a world of difference.

Those with little insights would consider seeing Him in a statue. They worship the statue with utmost reverence but do not translate that to the living world around.

But those that have the sense of equanimity, see God everywhere! They identify the divinity in each and every thing and being around them. To them, God is not just in a statue, fire or a ritual. Every action they undertake is an offering and every breath they take, is His miracle!

Each one perceives God as per his own spiritual maturity. Which kind he wants to be, is entirely up to him!

1. Giving is an action which quells poverty of the giver as well as the receiver! The receiver gains what he wants and the giver gains on the scale of virtue. Hence, it eradicates poverty on different levels for all the people involved.

2. No matter, what the circumstance or conditions are, trading values and integrity is not a choice. Everything else may be in shambles, at least his soul won't be! Be it good times or bad, integrity of the person's character is what protects and brings him out in one piece from any adversity.

3. Awareness and ignorance are antonyms of each other, just as light and darkness. These two swords can never fit in one scabbard, when one is in, the other is out! When one has the awareness, there is no place for ignorance. It gets dismissed automatically!

4. Would one be afraid in his own house even if it were dark? Because of the his familiarity of the dimensions of the house, he won't obviously bump into the walls. That familiarity leads him to contemplate his space and time. This contemplation dissipates all fears in him and makes his view clearer.

To turn any weakness to strength, acquire the right tool that dispels it from the very roots!

Knowledge (vidyaa) has the attributes of kaamadhenu (the celestial cow, which grants all wishes), it also gives fruit in inopportune times. It is equivalent to a mother when away from home, knowledge is deemed as a hidden stash of wealth.

Commentary:

There is no scarcity for the 'abundance of subhaaShitaas' on vidyaa. In this one, the poet says vidyaa is like the kaamadhenu, the celestial cow, that grants all wishes. It gives one the means to achieve anything he desires! It is up to him how he puts it to use. One can use his vidyaa to attain more money, fame, name, or better yet, mukti (salvation). It is like a mother who nurtures her child and her proximity gives a safe haven as well. Being equipped with knowledge make one feel at ease even in a foreign land. Unfamiliar grounds can be trodden with confidence when armed with the weapon called knowledge. It is like an invisible treasure chest that keeps providing one with tools as and when required, but can't be stolen by anyone. It is all his own!

The imbecile should be deemed as a two legged animal. He pierces with verbal spears, just as an invisible thorn.

Commentary:

When one is pricked with a thorn, it hurts alright! First thing he would want to do, is, remove it. But what if it is invisible, or deep seated that he can't reach it? An imbecile is such a thorn, opines the poet. It is not easy to get rid of it, but pricks constantly. Similarly, an ignoramus person constantly attacks with rude words, as if they were verbal spears. He keeps poking and prodding without respite. The poet even goes a step further and calls out such a person as a two legged animal! An animal would not be coherent with the emotions and feelings of others. Yet, many a times, we get to see animals showing compassion under the strangest circumstances. But this two legged animal has no remedy! The best route to take, is avoiding one!

Man is called 'the most cleverest animal', may one not work too hard and change it into 'the two legged imbecile animal'!

Birds of different colored feather, all resting on one tree, come morning, shall fly off in ten directions. What is there to agonize about?

Commentary:

A tree houses many a colorful birds and gives them a safe haven to sleep in. Come morning, even before the slightest crack of dawn, they all fly away in different directions, in search of a seed or a worm. Does it make sense if the tree to agonize about the birds - 'Oh, I gave them shelter all night long, in the morning they did not care for me and flew away on their own accord!'

Same happens in life! People from different walks of life, all meet for different purposes at different points in life. When that purpose is served, they move on. What is in it to agonize about? Feeling that someone should be indebted to him forever and be subservient to him is baseless! We meet people for a reason, season or a lifetime. Sometimes, there are short lessons to be learnt or to be shared. At times, the exchange of lessons needs a little longer time. But there are certain people and relationships that need a whole lifetime, to learn, share and grow together with. But then, when their growing is done here, even they, pass on!

When here and now, do thy duties cheerfully and with utmost dedication. Just like the tree, provide shelter and fruit for those in need. Learn a lesson or two from each passer by!

In prosperity, the mind of the noble becomes as tender as the lotus. In hardships, their thinking is rugged as the pile of rocks on a huge mountain.

Commentary:

It is not a 'one size fits all' policy. The noble know how to moderate their emotions and which to use under what circumstances!

A commoner would go ballistic on seeing prosperity. Their feet won't even touch the ground, speaking figuratively and literally ;). But when the same happens to the noble, it humbles them and they become tender as a lotus. They put their best effort forward for the betterment of others. Not just that, but they realize the true tentativeness of the onset of prosperity. They do not let it get into their heads or become arrogant.

But then, when hardships hit, the noble shed their tenderness and become as rugged as 'a pile of rocks on top of a huge mountain'! Why this analogy, instead of just saying 'as hard as a rock'? Well, the mountain is very rugged to begin with. For a huge pile of rocks to balance on top of it and also withstand the harshest weathers, those piles of rocks need to be much more rugged than a simple rock found on the side of a street :). The tenacity of the noble on impending hardships is intangible! Whereas, a the average or ordinary, would succumb to the adversity and disintegrate their faith, confidence and will.

Turn thy wounds into wisdom and do not cave into destitution. There is no education like adversity, so learn thy lessons!

What will the ocean do with his own gems? What will the vindhyaa mountain do with the elephants (dwelling) there? Of what use are the sandal trees to the malaya mountain? Wealth of the noble is for the benefaction of others.

Commentary:

Anyone will splurge their wealth on themselves. There is no greatness in that! An ocean is a store house of multitudes of gems. But does he use even a single piece of rock to deck himself up! The vindhyaa mountain is the house for many a herds of elephants. He doesn't direct them to work for his needs! There are sandal trees on the malaya mountain like no other place. But the mountain doesn't have any use for it either!

Similarly, the noble do not obsess over their possessions, but put it use for the benefit of others. They neither have any selfishness nor attachment towards their material possessions. 'The utility of their wealth for the right purpose' takes more priority for them, than 'for whom it is being used'!

If you have much, give your wealth; if you have little, certainly give your heart :). There is never a scarcity for that! Do anything heartily. The results will increase multifold.

What shall you do with a cow that neither milks nor bears a calf. What is the use of an offspring who is neither learned nor devoted.

Commentary:

There is a purpose for everything! A cowherd rears his cattle so that he can milk them or would bear calves some day. What is the use of a cow that is neither milking nor bears a calf. All his tending is a wasteful effort.

Similarly, there are a certain set of expectations from offspring as well. Any parent would want their children to be learned. Knowledge makes one humble. That humility is what carries him through the rough sailings of life. Also, arrogance is not a trait that is appealing. One needs to acknowledge that there is a higher power and be respectful of it. That is shown through devotion. A parent wants his offspring to be learned and devoted as well. What is the use of a son/daughter who is neither learned nor devoted? Just as a cow that neither milks nor bears a calf, tending such a child is a waste of effort!

It is easier to build strong children than repair broken adults. Guide them earlier on, so they don't become useless cows!

A being's deeds of the past - follow him in his sleep, follow him when standing, follow him (even if) running!

Commentary:One may be amidst a hundred friends, yet feel lonely, or, he may be really all alone. But in reality, he is never really alone! There is something that follows him better than a shadow. A shadow follow him only when there is light in the vicinity. This is better than that, because, it follows him without any exceptions! It is the company of his past deeds. It follows him through every nook and cranny of his life. It sleeps with him, it stands with him, it even runs with him if he runs! Can one ask for a company more constant than that :-). Whether he wants it or not, whether he likes it or not, it is there for him always. One doesn't need a battalion of escorts, past deeds will follow him anywhere and anytime.

If one enjoys good company, probably he should invest more in doing good deeds then :-).

The king's wife, the teacher's wife, friend's wife, wife's mother and his own birth mother - these 5 should be deemed as mother figures.

Commentary:

Like they say, 'God couldn't be everywhere, so he made mothers'! In his life, one doesn't come across just one mother, but many who take that role for the time being. Hence, all of them deserve the same reverence as they would, their own mother.

A leader or king protects and prospers the nation. His wife, is respected as a mother for, she walks hand in hand with him for the welfare of the land.

The teacher guides one and makes him an able being. In olden days, the pupil used to live at the teacher's house until his learning was completed. The wife of the teacher would feed them and shower affection on them, just as a mother. She is revered for her tending and affection.

A friend is a trusted person who stands by, through thick and thin. Can that trust be repaid by disrespecting his wife? The highest position of honor one can give, is that of a mother. Hence, the friend's wife is given this honor.

The mother of one's own wife, is given this utmost regard. That is because, the wife of the house is the one who instills values in the entire family. All that she has learnt, is through her own mother. That is what she would teach the children in the household. Veneration to her is, for teaching those ethics to his wife.

When giving the highest order of reverence to others, if one says, it is that of a mother, what more to speak of his own mother! She is the one who nurtures him in her womb, gives birth to him, tends him, teaches him life essence, instills ethics in him, gives a direction to his life... Pretty much does everything in her capacity to make sure that her child is secure and ready to take on life! Respecting her, is not an option, it is natural! There are no words or deeds that can repay a mother. All one can do is, imbibe her values, be the person she intended him to be and be eternally grateful to her!

Like they say, 'It takes a village to raise a child'! All these roles of mothers contribute to it significantly. 'Beings are what their mothers made them'. Mothers are always held in the highest esteem.

(One) should fear fears, only until the fears haven't arrived. One seeing the onset of fear, (one) should beat it without a doubt.

Commentary:

No one wants to give an open invitation for their own fears. Dreaded circumstances are better kept at bay. Be it any kind of phobia, big or small, everyone has their own fear factors. That point is valid only until the onset of the feared situation! One should certainly try all the tricks in his book to avoid it. But sometimes, it is not possible even for the best of the kind to ward it off. When that happens, he should most certainly keep his fear aside and fight it off with all his might! No excuses, no stone unturned. It becomes his prime duty to get himself out of the fearful situation, inspite of his fears!

Moreover, each time one faces his fear, he gains strength, courage, and confidence in the doing and vanquish the fear altogether!

What are (my) circumstances, who are (my) friends, what is the region, what are (my) income and expenses, who am I and what are my strengths - these should be thought over, again and again.

Commentary:

If one asked - do fish grow on trees, the answer is always the same - NO! But certain questions do not have the same answer always, nor is it as simple. Few such questions are about one's own current situation. The situations are new and different every time. Hence, the answers, are different each time as well!

To be on top of his own state of affairs, one has to question himself, again and again, what his circumstances are today, who are his current friends and foes, what part of the world is he living in and what are the economic and political grounds there, how is his balance sheet matching up, also, what his strengths and weaknesses are. None of these are consistent and remain same through out. The answers to these questions give him an opportunity to re-evaluate his life and catch a leak when it is still young. A small leak can wreck a great ship. If caught in time, one can save a whole lot of trouble for himself later.

Parrots and other talking birds get captured due to their own folly. Storks are not captured. Silence is instrumental in attaining all purposes!

Commentary:

Speech is silver, silence is golden!

Parrots and other talking birds, due to their chattering, attract unwanted attention on to themselves. Hunters aspiring to cage a talking bird, spread nets to capture them. But the 'dumb' storks :), keep their silence and don't entice the hunters as much. Ever heard of a stork being captured to adorn a cage! It is as if, his silence saved him from trouble.

It is very true for humans as well. Time and again, it is felt by all, 'why ever did I open my mouth!', after letting words slip through his lips! Before speaking, is the time to remind oneself 'Silence is instrumental in attaining all purposes!' For, sped arrows and spoken words can never be taken back.

Use thy words judiciously. Also, know when it is best not to use it at all!

Lotuses of gold are sculpted by many a sculptors. When putting fragrance in them, only Lord brahma is skillful!

Commentary:

One may be the most skillful, but man's skill set invariably falls short at some level. With modern day technologies and inventions, there still is a point where he doesn't have all answers or all capabilities. The following story says it all -

Once man said to brahma, 'I've learnt how to create, now you can take rest!' Calmly brahma said, 'Very well. Just before I retire, could you demonstrate your prowess? Make a pot'. Man laughed and said, 'that is no big deal, I've made bigger things than that!' He picked up some clay to make the pot when brahma stopped him. 'Put that down please. That clay wasn't made by you. Shouldn't you be making your own clay if you are being the creator!' The perplexed man had no answer. brahma replied, 'I thought so... Time to get back to work. Guess I can't retire quite yet' :-).

There may be very skilled sculptors who can make the most beautiful lotuses of gold. But putting fragrance in it, only the four-faced brahma keeps the secret! Only he has the skill to breath life into it! He is the only one who can provide the gold as well!!

Do not play yourself up! There is Someone above, who directs the happenings in this world continuously.

There should have satisfaction in 3 (aspects) - wife, food, money. There should be no satisfaction in 3 (others) - learning, meditating, giving.

Commentary:

Same rule isn't applicable for all issues! Satisfaction is a strange thing. Having it in some aspects gives peace but having it in some others, hinders progress.

One should be happy and contented about his spouse, the food he gets to eat and the wealth he possesses. Dissatisfaction in these, leads to unrest and constant agitation towards acquiring something more or someone better! Moreover, these are not the factors that lead one towards the purpose of life. So, better be happy with what there is and work on the true quest of life.

But complacency and contentment should have no place when it comes to learning, meditating or giving. One can never say that, now he has learnt everything and is very satisfied with his knowledge base. Knowing everything good that there is to know can not happen until one is a jIvanmukta puruSha (a liberated soul)! So, never be satisfied with learning.

'I've put in this many hours, I'm done for the week' - language works only at the office. There is no end for meditation. Prayer is talking to God, but meditation is listening to Him! Meditation is not just chanting the name of the Lord with closed eyes. Having Him in the thoughts every step of the way, through every action, every minute, is constant meditation at work. There is no upper cap on how much meditation one has to do. Keep His thoughts going!

Giving, is the most selfless action, that reiterates to one that material possessions are temporary. To give, one has to be selfless and unattached. Both are beneficial for raising the soul to a platform closer to Him. Give heartily. There are people always who could use the help.

Oh gentleman, the meritorious, even if they fall, fall like a ball. Whereas, an imbecile falls just like a lump of clay!

Commentary:

No journey is always looking up! There are ups and downs in any path. There are pit falls and high fly zones. As for falls, the difference between the meritorious and the imbecile is as evident as the fall of a ball and the fall of a lump of clay. The meritorious bounce back and reach higher heights, like a ball, even if they occasionally fall. The imbecile fall and collapse to the ground like a lump of clay! There is no bounce in a lump of clay. It is heavy and shatters on the very first fall. It isn't in it to take it as a learning experience and try harder the next time. Whereas, a ball, stays in perfect shape. Infact, it coverts the energy from the fall, to bounce higher! The exemplary are just the same. The fall doesn't perturb them from their task but gives them more resolve to achieve it faster!

Fragrance in gold; fruit in sugarcane; big flowers too in sandalwood; an educated who is rich; a king who lives for ever - there were no counselors for the creator earlier!

Commentary:

The poet is suggesting fragments for creation, that would have made nice additions to the creation itself! Shouldn't he have created the world like this -

Gold is precious and liked by most. What if it came with sweet fragrance too! One could smell the fragrance of their precious gold.

Sugarcane is sweet alright, what if it bore easily edible fruit that carried its sweetness! The sweetness would be more readily accessible to people.

Sandalwood retains fragrance for decades, what if it bloomed beautiful big flowers bearing its sweet fragrance! They would beautify a home even as they spread their aroma.

Riches make one's life easy and comfortable. What if the educated were bestowed with lots of wealth! He would have the best of both worlds and hence, an envious life.

A good king is a rare find. What if such a leader lived for ever! There would be no worries for the future or unanticipated anarchy.

But then, doesn't the creator know what's best! If everything was perfect and everyone had all their wishes granted, would there be any point in the existence of the world itself? He would not put all the arrows in one quiver! He knows what's best and wants beings to work with available resources, as if a message that the world is not an utopia, but a reality.

A reader, a preceptor or a thinker of the scriptures - all of them are imbecile addicts. Only he who is industrious is the learned!

Commentary:

Application of knowledge is most important! The poet opines that all those who read, teach or contemplate on scriptures, are all just addicted to the teachings, but not essentially grasping the contents there. He is the true learned who is industrious and puts the knowledge to use! Applying the values in day to day activities is what practicing is.

Just chanting verses, even parrots can do. The true difference is when one brings about a change to the world, by putting it to work.

Discrimination between the deserving and undeserving is, just as between a cow and a snake. From grass is produced milk (in a cow); from milk is generated poison (in a snake).

Commentary:

Whether it is an act of giving or offering aid, it is always said that the person receiving must be a deserving candidate. But how does one differentiate between the deserving and the undeserving? Very simple. The difference between the two is just as between a cow and a snake. A cow eats dry grass and gives back milk in return. Whereas, a snake feeds on milk and produces poison! Same goes with people. The deserving, when offered even the slightest assistance, make maximum use of it and give back to the society more than what they received. That keeps the goodness in the world alive. But those that take all that is given to them and apply it to harm those around, were obviously undeserving, to begin with.

Isn't it better to deserve without receiving than to receive without deserving!

The wealth gets left behind at home, friends and family at the crematorium. (But) good and bad deeds go behind the going (departed soul).

Commentary:

When passing on from this world, a being leaves behind all his possessions, in their own place and time. His material possessions are the first to be dropped. The do not even accompany him till the crematorium. He leaves them inside the door step of the house itself!

His near and dear ones come only so long as they have to carry him to the crematorium. Once their job is done there, they return home as well!

In his lonely journey onward, the only companions are his very own good AND bad deeds. There is no escape from them. Whether one likes it or not, his vices and virtues follow him and bear their fruit for sure!

If one wants an enjoyable company for his onward journey, he better start working when here! With good company, obviously set backs will be minimal and the path pleasurable.

Words conjoined with reason should be perceived from a child as well as a parrot. Those devoid of reason should not be grasped, even coming from bRuhaspati (guru of the Gods).

Commentary:

Children, do not have experience. Parrots, only repeat what they hear but do not practice. But if a valid thought is conveyed, whether from a child or a parrot, it can not be discounted just for the reason that they are either inexperienced or do not follow their own words! Many a times, one comes across human parrots, those that only mouth big words and quote many values although they themselves may not be living upto it. Even they, should not be discredited, says the poet. If there is essence in their words, take it and adapt it!

At the same time, if anything unreasonable is presented by someone from the highest seat of honor, do not follow it! Gods being divine, possess good in them. bRuhaspati, their teacher, obviously should have led them in the right path. But then, even if he says something irrational, do not follow it because of the office he holds :).

Use your own wisdom and judgement. Choose wisely. Take words for their face value and not from whose face the words are coming from :).

Knowledge is for argument, wealth is for insolence, strength is for tormenting others - the evil are the opposite of the noble (who, use the) same for awareness, giving and protecting (respectively).

Commentary:

Possessions themselves are not the problem, it is in the manner in which they are put to use, that cause concern!

Knowledge is applied for different purposes by different people. The evil apply their entire knowledge base to argue with others and to show off their prowess. Whereas, the noble are interested in learning more for their own awareness and bettering themselves than they were yesterday.

Money in an evil man's hand makes him arrogant and reckless. He walks around with the notion that the entire world is under his rule and everyone else is meant to serve him. The same asset in a noble man's hand is put to use for the benefit of others. His giving nature makes the resources available to those in need.

Strength is a faculty that can be dangerous when in wrong hands, rather, in wrong shoulders :). The evil use it for torturing and tormenting others. They are just entertained by seeing others in pain and will not hesitate to use it for the wrong purposes. Whereas, the noble put the same strength to use, for helping the weak. They make sure the weak are protected and taken care of.

No evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death. His goodness doesn't die with him either. The seeds he has sown outlive him and benefit the society long after he is gone as well. Put thy assets to use in the right directions. That is what makes a world of difference!

Born in the same place, they (each) smell differently. (Just as) water lily, lotus root, fish and night lotus!

Commentary:

A water lily, a night lotus, the lotus root and a fish are all born in water. Yet, they do not smell the same. Their traits and temperaments vary widely too. They do not look the same, smell the same or feel the same. Day lilies and lotuses bloom during the day, whereas, night lilies and night lotuses bloom at night. The roots remain under water when the flowers flower above. The fish are mobile and consume food as well. Hence, the lone similarity being the place of birth, they each have a bigger set of attributes unique to them alone.

Likewise, children from same parents or students of the same teacher can not be expected to be similar. Perceptions differ based on prior vaasanaas and experiences, which are beyond human comprehension. One child may be keen about music when one is eager to play sports. One may be extremely smart in math and the other may be exceptional at art! No matter what the color and fragrance they carry, each has his own place and specialty in this world. Each adds beauty to the home in his own unique way. And, none can substitute for the presence of the other! There is a superior driving force behind each individual and each individual belongs exactly where he is!

When no two people even born in the same place can be alike, how can one expect everyone in the entire world to work and think like him? People come into one's life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When he figures out which it is, he will know exactly what to do. Value each person for what he is. Each comes with his own flaws and finesses. Appreciate them for their good and overlook their shortcomings.

The sight of a crow, the attention of a stork, the sleep of a dog as well, little food and worn out clothes - these are the characteristics of a student.

Commentary:

Pick the best traits, from who ever it is! Just as every being has their own imperfections, they have a trait that they have mastered as well. A student especially needs to be constantly on the outlook to acquire the best qualities. And being a student through out one's life is the most blissful experience!

A crow, in some respects, is considered as the most basal of birds. But not in its sight. It has a very keen eye sight and nothing goes unobserved. That kind of observation is very essential if one is interested in increasing his knowledge base and getting to the bottom of things.

A stork is popular for its attention. It can stand hours on end, on one leg, without moving. It stands in the water, waiting patiently for fish passing by. Since the stork is almost still, the fish are not warned and the stork's patience gets paid. That kind of concentration should be learnt from the stork. Without concentration, jumping from one branch to another like a monkey, a deeper understanding of any subject matter is impossible.

A dog is very easy to wake up. Even when it sleeps, it is very aware of its surroundings and ready to jump up on the slightest stir. Also, when he wakes up, he doesn't sleep walk drowsily. He is up with full attention! Such should be the alertness of a student. Excessive sleep leads only to waste of time and laziness. Neither is it proactive towards learning.

Consumption of too much food makes one feel heavy, lazy and sleepy. Hence, a student is advised to consume food in small portions. It also curbs one from indulging himself in pleasing his palate, which can become another hindrance to learning.

'jIrNavastram' (worn out clothes) is emphasized for students. The reason being, if he wants his clothes to be new and up to date with the latest trends, his time and energy get wastefully spent on acquiring those clothes, making sure he looks good with all other accessories that go with it, etc. When the attention and dedication are diverted from the core subject and distracted into unwanted interests, productivity in the learning is anyone's guess!

Hence, the characteristics of a true student are defined as the above 5 traits. Like they say, 'Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety nine percent perspiration'. vidyaa never comes easily. One has to strive hard for it. If he adapts these traits, then, it doesn't seem like effort anymore!

Oh son, if you desire for freedom, shun 'objects of sense' as if poison. Drink forgiveness, honesty, compassion, cleanliness and truth, as if divine nectar.

Commentary:

Pleasing the palate, indulging in material pleasures, possessions, etc, only make one more miserable. They are vicious circles that keep one tangled up in wanting more and more. If one eats his favorite food, he won't be satiated with that one time. If he has a weakness for it, he would want to keep going for it more and more. If one is after acquiring more of any possessions, be it jewelry, land, money, wealth, he will not have an upper cap of any kind. Any amount will not please him and he will keep slogging to attain more. At no point will such a person say 'no' to more wealth than he already is spilling over with. The biggest downside of this disposition - it helps one in no way to attain the liberation he is supposed to be working towards. The poet hence says shun material pleasures that appease only the senses, as if they were poison. Because, they truly are poison towards one's spiritual growth.

Whereas, forgiveness, honesty, compassion, cleanliness and truth, clear up one's mind and prepare him for aiming for a higher goal. Forgiveness and compassion teach him selflessness and to feel for his fellow beings. That is one step closer to God. Truth and honesty are essentially what one's quests are in life. And then, cleanliness is godliness. Each of these take one closer to the divine in their own unique way. The poet urges those in the quest of liberation to drink up these traits, as if they were the divine nectar themselves. None would say 'no' to divine nectar. Then why not adapt these attitudes with the same rigor when their benefits may even surpass the goodness of nectar?

Freeing oneself from all tangles is itself liberation. Do not waste efforts in tangling yourself more!

He who, even after being burnt like camphor, gets stronger day by day, salutations to that unsuppressable hero, the cupid, who holds the flowery bow.

Commentary:

Camphor sublimates without even leaving behind the ashes. Similarly, legend says that, Lord Shiva's third eye burnt Cupid with no remnants left behind. But this non-personification of Cupid hasn't reduced his influence in any which way! Whether Cupid himself has a body or not, doesn't matter. When one is struck with his arrows, his influence grows stronger and stronger by the day. The poet opines that it is not even in one's own hands to ward Cupid off. Love is so powerful.

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind. Isn't that why he is called 'manoja' (born in the mind)!

Win friends with a good presence; win kinsmen with good presence too; women and dependents by - giving and respect; others through politeness.

Commentary:

How each person is handled has a huge impact on the way the relationship shapes up. And also, the same rule doesn't apply to all relationships either. The way one deals with a friend, is not the same as he would deal with his children. The poet hence says that one has to deal with friends and kinsmen with a good presence. One needs to be calm and composed when dealing with kith and kin, because spoken words and sped arrows can never be taken back. One wrong word can break the relationship for ever. Women are to be treated with respect. Giving is another faculty that one needs to develop, be it with women or dependents. They being the primary care takers, when they are valued, the household runs smoothly. Everyone else should be dealt politely. Rudeness and arrogance isn't appealing to anyone. Be he a king or a common man, arrogance and high strung attitude doesn't sit well with anybody.

Politeness is the art of choosing amongst one's real thoughts! One of the greatest victories one can gain over someone is to beat him at politeness. Adapting it wins many a wins.

Oh king, what can the moon in the sky do for him, who doesn't have strength in his arms and will in his mind?

Commentary:

If things aren't working in one's favor, he finds many a reasons to blame for his failure. One of the easiest and lamest reasons is - the stars are not in my favor! But then, for the success of any task, the more important factors are one's mental ability and his physical strength. If one has more trust on his own abilities, he is bound to achieve better. For one who doesn't have confidence in his own prowess, nor has a strong will or shoulders, how can the stars and moon sitting in the sky influence the outcome? How can one's star power, moon power or horoscope help in his achievements? Hard work, faith and one's will are what drives one towards success.

Only thing that overcomes hard luck is hard work! Efforts never fail.
(If they still fail, leave it up to the Lord. He knows the ulterior motive behind everything. We may not understand the outcome, but it certainly is what was supposed to be.)